O-Club's Chris Clever (photo by Doug Regner)

With the 2005 and 2006 Division I champions Santa Monica and runners-up Boston Irish Wolfhounds stepping up to the USA Rugby Super League in 2007, the race for the 2007 title is wide open.

The Round of Sixteen got underway on Saturday in Columbia, SC in the two-day event that determines who moves on to tomorrow's quarterfinals.

Pool B action saw the Cincinnati Wolfhounds getting past the Maryland Exiles 19-13 in one bracket and the Santa Barbara Grunions beating the Denver Highlanders 36-10.

First-year DI club Pearl City edged the Sacramento Lions 38-34 in Pool C play and Hayward edging the Baltimore-Chesapeake Brumbies 12-10.

In Pool D, the Olympic Club breezed past New Haven 34-8 and Life University more than doubled up the Gentlemen of Aspen 48-22.

"Good performances from Chris Clever, Rob Weedon and Tony Petruzella allowed us to take over that game and win it," said Olympic Club head coach Ray Lehner. "We play Life next, I think they're a very good team and we'll have to play our very best to beat them."

Severe weather in South Carolina delayed Pool A matches involving the Austin Blacks matchup against the South Side Irish and top-seeded San Mateo's tilt against Long Island.